Is Dragonstone a real castle?

Dragonstone is not a real, singular castle, but its exterior in Game of Thrones is based on the real-life islet of San Juan de Gaztelugatxe in the Basque Country of Spain. The iconic, winding stone staircase and rugged coastline are real, but the massive castle structure itself is added via CGI.

Is the castle at Dragonstone real?

San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, Spain

With its dramatic cliffs rising over the rugged Basque coast, the islet of Gaztelugatxe was chosen to represent House Targaryen's Dragonstone.

Where is Dragonstone in real life located?

San Juan de Gaztelugatxe has a history of being a place for pirates, covens and legends. Therefore the natural filming spot for Dragonstone.

Can you visit Dragonstone?

Already popular enough with tourists, San Juan de Gaztelugatxe became a site of pilgrimage among Game of Thrones fans after featuring in the HBO series (2011-present) as Dragonstone, the location from which character-favourite Daenerys Targaryen has been plotting war against her enemies.

Where is the Dragonstone castle?

Gaztelugatxe, Basque Country, Spain. San Juan de Gaztelugatxe was the island fortress of “Dragonstone” from season 7 of Game of Thrones. The view of the island in the coments.

Where Drogon Took Daenerys: A Secret That Changes Everything

What castle is Winterfell in real life?

One of the main filming locations for the entire TV series of Game of Thrones, the ancient and sprawling 1,000 acre of Old Castle Ward in Northern Ireland. In the pilot season it's where King Baratheon first set foot at Winterfell. We enjoyed seeing the castle and the grounds.

Does House Targaryen still exist?

Jon is the last known Targaryen, but his identity as the son of Rhaegar Targaryen is kept a secret, and he was exiled to the Night's Watch for the assassination of Daenerys, effectively ending House Targaryen.

Who currently controls Dragonstone?

Dragonstone was given to Stannis Baratheon by his brother, King Robert after he won the Iron Throne. Since Robert did not grant his brothers the title of "Prince", Stannis was given lordship over Dragonstone instead.

Are the stairs at Dragonstone real?

It took Daenerys Targaryen, Tyrion Lannister and their party 241 steps to make it to the top of Dragonstone. That's how many steps visitors to the real-life, steep twisting staircase at Spain's San Juan de Gaztelugatxe have to take in order to make it to the peak of the islet, located in Spain's Basque Country.

Where was Cersei's Walk of Shame filmed?

The Jesuit Staircase, Dubrovnik

Located near Gundulic Square in the centre of Dubrovnik Old Town is a regal and impressive staircase. Perhaps one of the most famous Game of Thrones scenes, the Jesuit Staircase was used as the filming location for Cersei's Walk of Shame in season five.

Who lived on Dragonstone before the Targaryens?

Dragonstone was colonized and had its citadel built by the Valyrians prior to the relocation of the Targaryens by Aenar. It also is implied that Driftmark and Claw Island had already been colonized and were ruled by the Valyrian familes Velaryon and Celtiger, respectively.

What beach was Dragonstone filmed on?

The beaches where Dany's forces land are actually Itzurun Beach in Zumaia and Muriola Beach near Barrika, both areas on the northern coast of Spain, located about 60 miles apart. There were also some exteriors shot on Downhill Strand in County Derry, Ireland.

Is King's Landing a real place?

1. Where was King's Landing filmed in Game of Thrones? While Westeros's capital might be fictional, its real-life counterpart, Dubrovnik, Croatia, is very much visitable (and significantly less dangerous).

Where in Spain is Dragonstone?

This is Dragonstone in real life on Spain's Basque Coast 🇪🇸🐉 📍 San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, Spain.

How far away is Dragonstone from the Wall?

Using the length of the Wall as a reference, the distance between the two locations is estimated to be around 400 miles (643 km). In episode 7, Aemond Targaryen flies Vhagar from King's Landing to Dragonstone in a seemingly short time, raising questions about the actual distance between the two places.

What is the 3 year ban in Spain?

Regulations on short-term rentals in Spain

Malaga: In January 2025, Malaga implemented a three-year freeze on new short-term rental registrations in 43 districts where such rentals constitute more than 8% of residential properties. This measure aims to improve housing availability for residents.

What is the Beckham loophole in Spain?

The "Beckham Loophole" (or Beckham Law) in Spain is a special tax regime for skilled foreign workers, named after David Beckham, allowing them to pay a flat 24% tax on Spanish income (up to €600k) for six years, treating them as non-residents to avoid higher progressive rates and generally exempting foreign income, with recent updates expanding eligibility to remote workers and entrepreneurs. This "loophole" allows expats to significantly reduce their tax burden by paying non-resident rates on Spanish income, while foreign earnings remain untaxed in Spain, a major advantage over standard resident taxation. 

Are tourists no longer welcome in Spain?

Is Spain banning tourists? No, not quite – but certain new rules and restrictions might impact your next trip to the country.

Is the Night King a Targaryen?

No, The Night King was created by the Children of the Forest, not born of Targaryen blood.

How did Stannis' daughter get Greyscale?

Tyrion quips to Varys that prayer isn't any more useful in curing greyscale than is trying to dance away the plague. Stannis Baratheon explains to his daughter Shireen how she contracted greyscale as an infant, from an infected doll that he bought from a passing merchant ship from Dorne.

Are there any Targaryens left after Daenerys died?

However, in the series finale, Daenerys was killed by Jon Snow, who was revealed to be a long-lost Targaryen in a twist that fans of the novels had long predicted. As it stands in current Westeros history, Jon is the only surviving Targaryen.

Who has the saddest death in Game of Thrones?

While subjective, the saddest deaths in Game of Thrones often cited are Shireen Baratheon (burned alive by her father), Hodor (holding the door for Bran, revealing his tragic origin), Ned Stark (beheaded for his honor), and the Red Wedding (massacre of Robb, Catelyn, and their allies) due to their innocence, tragic irony, or brutal injustice. These deaths stand out for their emotional impact, the pure character of the victims (Shireen, Hodor), or the shocking betrayal (Ned, Red Wedding) that defined the show's bleak tone. 

Why did Drogon spare Jon Snow?

Drogon spared Jon Snow primarily because he sensed Jon's deep love for Daenerys and his Targaryen blood, recognizing Jon wasn't a malicious tyrant but acted from grief and loyalty, leading him to destroy the corrupting Iron Throne instead of killing Jon. Drogon perceived Jon as family, not a true enemy, and understood the throne was the real source of Daenerys's tragic turn, thus choosing to melt the symbol of power and fly away with his mother's body. 

Who dies first, Daemon or Rhaenyra?

Daemon Targaryen died on the 22nd of the fifth month and Rhaenyra Targaryen died the same day, 5 months later. #HouseOfTheDragon #Rhaenyra #Daemon. The fact that there are fans who think Daemon survived a fall from *probably* 1,000 feet into water is wild.